PUBLIC toilets have been in decline for many years.

Once upon a time you could find them in parks, town centres or near bus stops but many have been locked up due to vandalism or lack of use.

Now eight more are being shut in the Ribble Valley – so should we care?

The answer is yes.

We need public toilets.

As a number of people have pointed out today, shops and pubs are not always open when the call of nature comes.

And isn’t it the sign of a civilised society that we should at least provide such basic facilities as this?

It appears, however, that these closures are a done deal, and if that’s the case the fallback position has to be the hope that businesses will have sufficient public spirit to co-operate.

Some cafes and pubs are already fairly relaxed when faced with a non-customers wanting to spend a penny.

But all of us have come across establishments that don’t take such a charitable view.

And if these places continue to be mean-spirited, doesn’t this whole closure plan fail spectacularly?